Happy spooky season

Your weekly shopping guide [View in browser]( [IndyBest]( [IndyBest]( [Daisy Lester]( Daisy Lester](, eCommerce writer October 21, 2022 The nights are drawing in and we’re almost ready to embrace the Christmas festivities, which means only one thing: [Halloween]( is here. This year, it falls on a work and school night – Monday 31 October – so many of us will be celebrating the spooky season this weekend. Whether you’re trick or treating with the kids or marking the occasion with a party, let's just hope you’ve managed to avoid the last minute [costume]( shopping frenzy. As well as Halloween, we’ve also been celebrating the return of Taylor Swift, whose new album Midnight is set to soundtrack our winter. But it isn’t just her music that has us hooked, the singer’s make-up look in the new music video for Bejewelled is perfect for party season – and [we’ve reviewed the Pat McGrath products]( that went into the statement style. With Halloween soon out the way, we’ve got our sights firmly set on Christmas and there’s no better way to indulge than with an alternative [advent calendar](. For a very merry time, head to [Aldi for its bargain beer and wine calendars](, or for a more practical (and very niche) countdown, [Wera’s calendar]( treats you to a different tool each day, from screwdrivers to bottle openers. As for the beauty buffs, there’s almost too much choice in our [A-Z guide](. But, of course, we can’t forget that this Christmas will take place in the midst of a spiralling cost-of-living crisis. As everything from the [weekly food shop]( and [petrol]( to [energy bills](and [mortgage rates]( rise in price, some brands are attempting to alleviate the strain on our finances. This week, our writer [Alex Lee]( wrote about [Vodafone’s £12 broadband scheme,](which is the network provider’s first social tariff broadband plan for low-income customers and the cheapest in the UK.   An Apple a day Tech juggernaut Apple has just dropped [two new iPads](which our writer David Phelan has been busy testing since they were announced last week. How easy was the setup? Is video playback smooth or jittery? How faithful are the colours on screen? Does the tablet slow down when you ask it to run demanding programmes? And how does the battery fare? These were all questions he set out to answer. [Sephora opening UK]( “The new iPads are exceptional,” he concluded (did we expect anything less than Apple?) “The larger [iPad pro]( is especially brilliant (literally, thanks to the mini LED backlighting that brightens everything) and has a super-fast processor that handles everything you throw at it with ease,” he added. If you’re looking to upgrade, make sure to read his in-depth review. [Read more](   Go big or go home Whether it’s a reindeer and sleigh scene, a snowman or Father Christmas (or all three, à la the feuding fathers in Deck the Halls), festive inflatables are an increasingly popular outdoor decor choice. Owing to their sheer size, they don’t come cheap – but luckily for those seeking excess for 2022, [Homebase has reduced its 6ft Father Christmas to just £25.]( [Booker prize winner 2022]( Available for one week only, the deal makes Homebase’s Santa one of the cheapest on the inflatables market. Designed for any kind of outdoor space big enough for the life-size figure, it comes complete with an [LED light bulb]( to create a dazzling North Pole scene in your garden. [Read more](   Low-cost connectivity The cost-of-living crisis has gripped the nation – and as well as the price of the [weekly food shop](, [petrol](, [energy bills](and [mortgage rates]( hiking, bills for broadband could [surge]( by an eye-watering £113 next year. To help people stay connected during the crisis, broadband providers have slowly started rolling out low-cost, discounted social tariff rates aimed at those on low incomes. [A Plague Tale Requiem review]( [Vodafone]( is the latest company to do so, and it’s launched the cheapest social tariff currently available in the UK. Vodafone Essentials costs just £12 a month, and provides customers download speeds of up to 38Mbps. There’s no set-up fees, no early termination fees and once your contract is up, you’ll still pay just £12 per month, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. To find out if you’re eligible, make sure to read our explainer. [Read more](   Deals that dazzle If you’re aiming to avoid the last minute frenzy, it’s time to start refining your Christmas shopping wishlist. To help you gift on a budget – particularly in light of the rising cost of living – [Boots’s “star gifts”]( selection has returned for another year. If you’re looking for the perfect present for [beauty]( buffs or unmissable deals on their signature [fragrance](, the popular range offers discounts across beauty bundles and gift sets – some of which are sold exclusively at Boots. [Beaufort & Blake]( There’s also some stellar deals across electricals, [make-up](, [skincare]( – some better than half price – from big name brands such as [Bobbi Brown](, [Fenty](, Beauty Works, [The Ordinary](, Oral-B and more. We’ve rounded up all the best deals to save you scrolling. [Read more](     Deals of the week The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our newsletter, we may earn commission. [Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 deal]( Get Amazon's bestselling [Echo dot smart speaker]( for just £21.99 following the launch of its latest model. [Get deal](   [Black Friday 2022 ]( Sony's Bravia A80J 55in is currently at its [biggest discount ever](, with a massive saving of £400, bringing the display’s price down to less than £1,000. [Get deal](   Don't miss a thing Keep up to date with all the latest IndyBest news over on social... [Twitter]( [Instagram](   Thank you for reading. P.S. If you can spare two minutes we'd love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters.   [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email. You are currently registered to receive The Independent's IndyBest email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's IndyBest email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Indy_Best_CDP). 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